Kids Say The Darndest Things

I love it when kid's say cute things like HairBall instead of AirBall at a basketball game, or Platypus instead of Glamorous when listen to Fergie's fabulous music. It warms my soul.

Or sometimes it just makes me laugh hysterically and say "I'm totally blogging that!"

When Darwin was home on R&R, he would take BabyBoy to the bathroom with him to help try and get babyBoy potty trained. The only luck I've had was last summer when he would let me know he needed to potty while we were swimming. Once pool season was over, BabyBoy was happy to pee and poop in his pants again. So, standing in a public bathroom with urine flowing, BabyBoy looks up at Darwin and says "What's that?" Darwin replied "My pee pee." BabyBoy smiled and enthusiastically said "I like your pee pee!" Darwin quickly retorted "Don't say that again."

How hilarious is that? BabyBoy doesn't have an indoor voice, so I'm sure everyone in the place heard him. And he has a habit of repeating everything from 2 to 72 times before he stops, so if Darwin wouldn't have stopped him when he did, BabyBoy would have kept on saying it ... loudly no doubt.

5k at the Orlando Retreat

I'm almost done talking about this stuff, so hang in there. Here are some pictures of people crazy enough motivated enough to run & bike after a late night spent partying socializing. Click to embiggen.





Here are some pictures of people running like their kids are chasing them.





The only reason I rolled out of bed before noon was for the Sky Mahshull with her adorable Piss Caah accent. Love ya roomie!



By the way, these are not in chronological order. I'll try to upload them to the Flickr group that way though.


Exhibit A the first time I "met" Corey. She hugged the person standing next to me. I think it was MotherIssues. I'll stop picking on you about it now Corey, promise. LOL

Neglecting the Blog as much as the Baby Book

The blog is getting neglected as much as the baby books. The first one is all filled in and you stay on top of things, bring your A game, etc and by the 2nd or 3rd you're doing good if you just write the kid's names in their book. That's kinda been my blog as of late. For the past few weeks I've been living in the moment, enjoying life, relaxing, laughing, and being happy. After some rough years, some stressful times, and being a big ball of negativity, this is a much welcomed change.

I'm still not shitting fairy dust and life isn't all roses and rainbows, but it's good enough. Darwin came home for R&R again. We're okay and it's nice. We spent 6 days at Disney. Melissa went with us. The BirthParents had another baby. Darwin got extended for another year in Afghanistan. We've already been apart for 365 days (except for 30 days per year for R&R which is not consecutive and is actually less than 30 due to travel time), what's another 365? I shouldn't reveal so much because of OPSEC but fuck me, I'm tired of solo parenting. The kids are mostly okay. I met some terrific people who live inside my computer and now we're friends (or I stalk them and pretend we're friends, whatever, technicalities). The weather is nice and the bills are paid and tomorrow is another day.

In depth, drama filled, naval gazing, picture filled posts to follow. After I've had some sleep.

Photowalk at the Orlando Retreat

A few of us went on a couple of walks to take pictures during the Orlando Retreat.


We happened over to another one of the houses and I LOVED the way it was decorated. The textures! The colors! The decor! I may have freaked the residents of the house out a tiny bit, what with my squealing and laying in the floor to get a shot.








I also had a thing for the street signs.




And lamp posts.


And flora & fauna.




Needed The Sibley Guide to Birds for identification purposes.

I Am NOT Alone

The reason I wanted to attend the Orlando Retreat AKA RAD Mom's Retreat AKA Soul Sisters AKA Annual Early Trauma and Attachment Meeting was to 1) Get the hell away from my kids before I lost what's left of my mind and 2) To be with other people who "get it". I had one goal; to relax.

Mission Accomplished

I was in this house (the best one, IMO, though everyone said that about their own)





With these fabulous women

With Love From Sumy

A bra that fits, A can opener that works, and A Good Book

Crawford Life & Times

Tubaville

Mother Issues

Roztime

And a couple of gals who don't blog.



I spent most of my time either in the hot tub or the pool that was almost as warm.



Or sitting by the pool and hot tub while reading a book. Or sleeping all day. Or hiding out from the people who flocked to our house. The amount of people was a tad overwhelming, and I just tried to blend in with the wall as best I could. Which apparently worked well because on the last day as we were getting ready to fly back home, a certain someone *cough* Corey *cough* introduced herself to me though it was the 3rd time we had been in the same area*. It's okay though. I don't think she had a moment to relax herself with all the planning and corralling and absolute work involved in organizing this whole thing. Thank you Corey! I so needed it. I am NOT alone. Thank you for that!



*To be fair, i also "met" someone four different times and each time she would ask me where i was from. When i told her, she said either "i just met someone from there" or "i've met like 4 people from there" and all of them were me. I would tell you her name except i don't know it. Because i couldn't put faces and names with blogs, so i was completely lost the entire weekend in social gatherings. Hence the reason i was a reclusive wall flower. Meaning i don't blame anyone because i did the same thing myself. LOL Example ... just realized GBs mom was there and would like to have met her. Oops. Also just made the connection between several people and their blogs ... Oops again.

Home from Orlando

Have been feeling a little under the weather, but pics as promised:

In orlando

Using Roz's fancy gadget iPad to blog. Had to choose between bringing clean underware or laptop. Chose knickers obviously.

Text to Darwin mid-flight:
I am 30 thousand freaking feet in the air. It's like a ride at six flags. Motion Sickness Mountain. Tiny plane. Feel every change in altitude. I want off this ride.

Ali is hereby known as Sky Marshall, bless her heart.

Having a great time! Relaxing in hot tub, reading, snacking, napping, laughing.

Miss my fam tho. Called home and kids answered phone. Darwin outside and kids Worried. Gah! Must learn to let go and trust others with kids.

Pics later when get home.